It is worth updating the American effort to help the Christian and Yazidi refugees who are surrounded on a mountain in northern Iraq by ISIS terrorists. Last night, president Obama directed American forces to drop food and water to these starving and homeless refugees.
Here is how the AP describes the latest report from the Obama administration on the effort:
"The planes delivered 5,300 gallons of fresh drinking water and 8,000 pre-packaged meals and were over the drop area for less than 15 minutes at a low altitude."
So was that a success? The clear answer is that while the effort was worthwhile, it has undoubtedly been a failure so far. Keep in mind that the latest estimates according to UN sources are that there are 50,000 religious refugees on the mountain. That means that the American drop consisted of less than one 20 ounce water bottle per person. How long will that last? The food drop is enough to get each person 20% of a meal. Even if the numbers of refugees has been overstated by a factor of two, there is still less than half a meal for each person and just a small amount of water. Unless American planes are back there quickly, there will still be thousands of people dying from thirst.
It is not enough for president Obama to authorize a one-time action. It is not enough for him to authorize a one week action. He has to authorize an ongoing relief effort that will continue until these people are rescued from their predicament. I know that Obama does not want to have American troops in Iraq, but someone is going to have to rescue these refugees or they will die.
It is worth a bit more explanation about the plight of these people. The Christians on the mountain were given a choice by ISIS: they can convert to the ISIS brand of Islam, pay a heavy tax on "infidels" or die. For the Yazidis whose religion is more akin to Zoroastrianism, the choice is a much more stark one. ISIS considers the Yazidis to be "apostates". As such they do not get the choice to pay the tax. Basically, they can die although ISIS might allow some of them to convert.
Here is how the AP describes the latest report from the Obama administration on the effort:
"The planes delivered 5,300 gallons of fresh drinking water and 8,000 pre-packaged meals and were over the drop area for less than 15 minutes at a low altitude."
So was that a success? The clear answer is that while the effort was worthwhile, it has undoubtedly been a failure so far. Keep in mind that the latest estimates according to UN sources are that there are 50,000 religious refugees on the mountain. That means that the American drop consisted of less than one 20 ounce water bottle per person. How long will that last? The food drop is enough to get each person 20% of a meal. Even if the numbers of refugees has been overstated by a factor of two, there is still less than half a meal for each person and just a small amount of water. Unless American planes are back there quickly, there will still be thousands of people dying from thirst.
It is not enough for president Obama to authorize a one-time action. It is not enough for him to authorize a one week action. He has to authorize an ongoing relief effort that will continue until these people are rescued from their predicament. I know that Obama does not want to have American troops in Iraq, but someone is going to have to rescue these refugees or they will die.
It is worth a bit more explanation about the plight of these people. The Christians on the mountain were given a choice by ISIS: they can convert to the ISIS brand of Islam, pay a heavy tax on "infidels" or die. For the Yazidis whose religion is more akin to Zoroastrianism, the choice is a much more stark one. ISIS considers the Yazidis to be "apostates". As such they do not get the choice to pay the tax. Basically, they can die although ISIS might allow some of them to convert.
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